Knitting-machine.



No. 773,477. PATENTBD 001271904.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903. N0 MODEL. ZSHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

0. F. COLE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903.

2 sums-sum 2.

no MODEL.

C(AJW/a as ea UNITED STATES Patented October 25,- 1904.

PATENT OEETCE.

CHESTERFIELD F. COLE, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE QUINCY KNITTING COMPANY, OF THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN, A

CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,477, dated October 25, 1904.

Application filed November 23, 1903. Serial No. 182.312. (N0 model.) i

To all whom, it may concern.-

bed therefor adapted to receive the needles and to permit of angular adjustment of the same, whereby they may be withdrawn from or thrown into operative relation with the needle-operating cams:

The invention further consists in a new and simple construction of needle-holder, in the formation of the adjusting and locking mechanism for the holder to retain the needlesin different positions of adjustment, and, still further, in the peculiar arrangement and combination of other parts of the machine, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section through a part of a straight-knitting machine, showing the bed in section and the needleholder and needle in elevation. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional perspective view of the needle-bed. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of one of the needle-holders, and Fig. 4: is a plan view of the needle-operating cams and bed.

In the drawings thus briefly describedreference letter A designates the needle 'bed frame of the construction usual in straightknitting machines.

B represents one of the needle-beds there- 'on, the complementary bed being omitted, as

it is of similar construction, and the relative arrangement of the beds and the two series of needles form no part of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bed is interposed between two blocks C and D, bolted to the needle-bed frame, and is adjustably secured to these blocks in the usual manner by the laterally-extending screws or threaded bolts E.

To adapt the bed to receive the needle-holders and needles, a series of transverse slots, such as F, are formed therein. extending entirely across the bed, but only partly there through. Each slot, as shown, tapers vertically, increasing in depth from the front edge G of the bed to the rear edge H, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. As thus constructed the bed has an underlying base-section I, which extends uninterruptedly its entire length, thereby forming a rigid and durable structure capable of withstanding the strain to which it is necessarily subjected.

Within the slots described are the needleholders J, upon which are mounted the needles K, and K represents the usual needle-retaining gib engaging a substantially beveledged groove K in the bed.

Each needle-holder is preferably formed of a single piece or strip of spring material, preferably wire, folded upon itself in the man- ,ner indicated in Fig. 3 to form a straight needle-supporting section a and bent to form a spring locking-section b. The locking-section comprises a downwardly-extending loop 0, the lower portion of which is bent forwardly to forma stop (Z, and a rearwardly-extending loop 0, whichforms a handle or finger-hold by means of which the needle-holder is operated. At a slight distance beneath the loop 6 is a detent f, formed in the section 0, adapted to engage a locking-bar hereinafter clescribed to lock the needle-holder in its different positions of adjustment. The wire forming the loop 6 described extends forwardly in the direction of and partly over the needleretaining section and serves to grip and hold the needle, so that it may be shifted with the. holder.

K represents the universal locking-bar for the series of needle-holders, spaced from the rear edge of the bed, as indicated, and having detachable connections therewith. More particularly the bar is separated from the bed by spacing-blocks L, which are bolted to the edge of the bed, and is connected to these blocks by the screws M. Upon the inner face of the locking-bar is a rib O, and between this rib and the rear edge of the bed project the downwardly-extending portions 0 of the lockingsections previously described, the detent f engaging upon the upper and lower edges of the rib.

P and Q are the usual wing cams, and It a \I-cam, arranged above the bed in the usual manner and adapted to be operated by asuitable mechanism. (Not herein shown.) As the means for operating the needles is of old and well-known construction and forms no part of the present invention, a further description of the same will not be necessary.

hen it is desired to throw one or more needles into operative relation with the cams, the operator by grasping the handle portions of the needle-holders raises the same until further upward movement is prevented by the stop cZ. At this moment the detent engages the upper face of the locking-bar K and the needle is retained in a position with its heel at extending above the surface of the bed in operative relation to the cams, as plainly illustrated in Fig. 1.

To withdraw the needle, the holder is forced downwardly until the finger-section or handle strikes the locking-bar, and it is retained in this position with the heel of the needle below the surface of the bed by the detent.

From the description of the mechanism as set forth it will be evident that by slotting the bed in such manner as to leave asolid unbroken section underlying the slots a very durable construction is produced. Furthermore, the bed being in one piece there are no parts to become loose and thrown out of alinement. Thus the needles after the bed has once been adjusted are always in operative relation to the corresponding series of needles.

The holders for the needles, as will be obvious, are ofvery simple construction, and while being capable of effectively performing the function for which they are designed can be produced at very small cost.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a solid needle-bed having a series of transverse slots formed therein and extending only partly therethrough, of a universal lockingbar separated from and having detachable connections with the bed, a plurality of needleholders arranged within the bed-slots for angular adjustment and carrying spring lockingsections projecting between the bed and locking-bar and adapted to engage independently with the latter to maintain the holders in their different positions of adjustment,and the nee dles supported upon the holders.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a needle-bed having a series of transverse slots formed therein, of a plurality of needleholders within the slots, each of said needleholders having a needle-supporting section and a spring locking-section arranged to bear upon the needles and hold the same firmly to the needle-supporting sections, and needles supported upon the holders.

3. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a needle-bed having a series of transverse slots formed therein, of a plurality of needleholders within the slots, each formed of a single piece of spring material folded and bent to form respectively a needle-supportingsection and a spring locking-section arranged to bear upon and hold the needles firmly to the needle-supporting sections, and the needles supported upon the holders.

4. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a needle-bed having a series of transverse slots formed therein, of a bar secured to said needle-bed in rear of said slots, aplurality of needle holders arranged within the slots for angular adjustment, each formed of a single piece of spring material having a substantially flat needle-supporting section and a downwardly-extending looped portion, one side of said looped portion being arranged to frictionally engage the forward edge of the bar secured to the needle-bed to lock the needlesholders in various positions of adjustment.

5. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a needle-bed having a plurality of transverse slots formed therein, of a bar secured to said bed in rear of saidslots, a pluralityof needle-holders arranged within said slots for angular adjustment, each formed of a single piece of spring material and having a substantially flat needle-supporting section, the rear end of which is bent to form a looped portion, the free end of which is arranged to overlie the flat needle-supporting section and hold the needle firmly thereon and one side of which is arranged to frictionally engage the side of the bar secured to the needle-frame and hold the needle-holders in various positions of adjustment, and the needles supported upon the holders.

6. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a needle-bed having a plurality of transverse slots formed therein, of a bar secured to said bed in rear of said slots, a plurality of needle-holders arranged within said slots for angular adjustment, each formed of a single piece of spring material and having a substantially flat needle-supporting section, the rear lock the needle-holders in various positions of I end of Which is bent to form a looped portion, adjustment. I0 the free end of Which is arranged to overlie In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the [lat needle-supporting section and hold presence of two Witnesses.

the needle firmly thereon and one side of CHESTERFIELD F. COLE. which is provided With an outwardly-bent de- Witnesses:

tent arranged to cooperate With the forward GEO. H. ARNOLD,

edge of the bar secured to the needle-bed to F. H. CAsE. 

